Mir Aulad Ali was an inspirational Dubliner. He worked tirelessly for the Irish language. He was born in India, but was attracted by the prestige of the Department of Oriental Studies at Trinity College in Dublin. He was appointed their first dedicated professor of Arabic and Persian in 1861. On arrival, he set about learning Irish.

Mir Auald Ali lived with his wife for many years at 139 Leinster Road, Rathmines. He became a popular figure about town. Thousands flocked to see his demonstrations of fencing and oriental martial arts.

He was an exotic figure and he always attended the Dublin Castle Ball in traditional costume. Mir Aulad Ali was a Muslim but he had respect for all religious faiths. He was passionate about Irish and was a founding member of the Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language.

Minutes show that he attended almost every weekly meeting at 9 Kildare Street, Dublin. He held night classes and encouraged men and women of all classes to study Irish. Mir Aulad Ali died of a heart attack in 1898. He is interred at Mount Jerome Cemetery at Harold’s Cross in Dublin.

He was fondly remembered by ordinary Dubliners, and also by WB Yeats and GB Shaw. Mir Aulad Ali fought for Irish a generation before the Gaelic League even existed. We should praise him, and his work should be more widely known.